Essential Goal of Christianity???

[Dedicated Mind]

The essential goal of christianity is the evolution of consciousness until it fully expresses the love nature of Christ.

righteousness/virtue/good works flow naturally from a nature of love

agree? disagree? comments? criticisms? how does mainstream or conservative christianity measure up to this standard? Is there a different standard?

[Amanah]

Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

He came to restore fallen humanity to a relationship with himself.

that restoration included being born again of the water and spirit

being transformed by the renewing our of minds:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12)

It also means producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives:

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5)

[Dedicated Mind]

I don't disagree with your comment amanah, but I am talking about "essence". If you pursue and develop a nature of love, you will fulfill all that you have posted.

[Dedicated Mind]

historical/conservative christianity has attempted to achieve righteousness by means of human will and effort instead of pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love.

[Amanah]

I don't think we can manifest the fruit of the Spirit, w/o having the Spirit.
I think some religions attempt to manifest the fruit w/o actually having the Spirit.
While the terminology of religions may sound similar, there are very real differences.

[phareztamar]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

historical/conservative christianity has attempted to achieve righteousness by means of human will and effort instead of pursuing the spirit of love and allowing righteousness to flow from the spirit of love.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I don't think we can manifest the fruit of the Spirit, w/o having the Spirit.
I think some religions attempt to manifest the fruit w/o actually having the Spirit.
While the terminology of religions may sound similar, there are very real differences.

good point amanah, not that I disagree with you, I am not sure, but let me think aloud.

God breathed his spirit and created the soul of man in creation. man is composed of body, soul and spirit. God is omnipresent and therefore the spiritual essence of every human being. every human being has a measure of faith and a conscience of right and wrong. Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King all practiced love without being baptized with the holy ghost speaking in tongues. spirit baptism wasn't even present in historical christianity for 1,500 years. So someone that doesn't have the holy ghost baptism cannot demonstrate the fruit of the spirit? my reason tends to disagree. Holy spirit baptism must be the assurance of salvation and not the means of it, unless historical christians for the last 1500 years are all damned.

[phareztamar]

spirit baptism wasn't even present in historical christianity for 1,500 years.


Where did it go? It was poured out on the day of pentecost @2,000 years ago, and I thought it's been around as a gift every since.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by phareztamar

spirit baptism wasn't even present in historical christianity for 1,500 years.


Where did it go? It was poured out on the day of pentecost @2,000 years ago, and I thought it's been around as a gift every since.

if you read about pentecostal history, you will not see written evidence of speaking in tongues during church history except for the apostolic age and the modern pentecostal movement that began in early 1900 in azuza california. that is not to say that the holy spirit wasn't moving or working in the church or that there wasn't a tradition of "mystical" experiences like the quakers and pietists, but the modern idea of holy ghost baptism with speaking in tongues was not known throughout church history. so the question is can people throughout history demonstrate the fruit of the spirit without being spirit baptized in the modern pentecostal sense?

[phareztamar]

so the question is can people throughout history demonstrate the fruit of the spirit without being spirit baptized in the modern pentecostal sense?


My opinion...no. It's also my opinion that the same Spirit baptism as occured on the day of pentecost has been available and experienced without a 1900 year gap. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.

That said, I have seen many people demonstrate more love and compassion than some of my brothers and sisters in the faith, who have been baptized with the Holy Ghost.